RE: Neverending two-car story | PH Footnote
Discussion
Sporky said:
How much weight and cost would that add?
And before you say the manual would be lighter, have a look at the Morgan Plus 4 - the manual is heavier in that, as Alpine have said one would be in the A110. That V6 doesn't sound like one that's in production either.
And once you've added that extra weight you'd need bigger tyres, firmer suspension, a bigger fuel tank for the same range, and the spiral continues. You end up with something much like a Boxter/Cayman - I'm absolutely not saying that's not a great car, but it's a world (and a few hundred kilos) away from what the Alpine is. Could they hit the emissions requirements with an NA V6? Certainly in France it would have been hit with a massive hike in their road tax equivalent.
I like a good manual, and I like V6s. But I don't think either would have enhanced the A110 - they've have just changed it. I basically ended up choosing between an Evora GT400 (manual, S/C V6) and the Alpine, and overall the Alpine was even more fun to drive.
I'd rather have the thing in my garage (or, better, be in it enjoying it) than be sad that I don't drive something that doesn't exist. The Alpine, as it exists, is brilliant, and personally I'm just happy that it, the 718, the GR Yaris, the GT86/BRZ, MX5, Supra, F-Type and all the ones I've forgotten (sorry) are here for us to have fun in. For every single one there are things I could say "it'd be nice/better if...", but I'd rather get on with enjoying whichever one I can. If it wasn't a slightly scummy thing to do (given that I'm in no mood or financial position to change), I'd book test drives in all of those just so I could try them. It's unfashionable to say so, but I think we live in brilliant times for fun cars.
It’s subjective. For me manual would be the bare minimum and absolutely enhance the car.And before you say the manual would be lighter, have a look at the Morgan Plus 4 - the manual is heavier in that, as Alpine have said one would be in the A110. That V6 doesn't sound like one that's in production either.
And once you've added that extra weight you'd need bigger tyres, firmer suspension, a bigger fuel tank for the same range, and the spiral continues. You end up with something much like a Boxter/Cayman - I'm absolutely not saying that's not a great car, but it's a world (and a few hundred kilos) away from what the Alpine is. Could they hit the emissions requirements with an NA V6? Certainly in France it would have been hit with a massive hike in their road tax equivalent.
I like a good manual, and I like V6s. But I don't think either would have enhanced the A110 - they've have just changed it. I basically ended up choosing between an Evora GT400 (manual, S/C V6) and the Alpine, and overall the Alpine was even more fun to drive.
I'd rather have the thing in my garage (or, better, be in it enjoying it) than be sad that I don't drive something that doesn't exist. The Alpine, as it exists, is brilliant, and personally I'm just happy that it, the 718, the GR Yaris, the GT86/BRZ, MX5, Supra, F-Type and all the ones I've forgotten (sorry) are here for us to have fun in. For every single one there are things I could say "it'd be nice/better if...", but I'd rather get on with enjoying whichever one I can. If it wasn't a slightly scummy thing to do (given that I'm in no mood or financial position to change), I'd book test drives in all of those just so I could try them. It's unfashionable to say so, but I think we live in brilliant times for fun cars.
Agree the engine is more problematic. They couldn’t really afford to engineer a bespoke small V6 for it, as you imply. Which sort of underlines the appeal of flat six Porsche cars. Both chassis and engine are bespoke sports car hardware. Has a big impact.
In the Alpine it’s a bespoke chassis and a borrowed powertrain. I ultimately couldn’t live with the turbo four banger and paddles. The slight lard in the Porsche options I can tolerate, even if 150-200kg shaved off would be lovely. The chassis is still nice, afraid I can’t say that of the Alpine powertrain.
bigwheel said:
1 month old Hyundai Ioniq pure electric. Do it right, no hybrid.
Gets me to work.
Lots of tech makes it interesting in understanding a new way to drive.
Monaro CV8, cat back from new
for weekend and long distance pleasure and thrills.
How's that for a balanced brace of motors!
(Perhaps I should call it the Ironic!)
Similar here - 2021 model Hyundai Kona Electric 64kwh, and a '93 Eunos S-specialGets me to work.
Lots of tech makes it interesting in understanding a new way to drive.
Monaro CV8, cat back from new
for weekend and long distance pleasure and thrills.How's that for a balanced brace of motors!
(Perhaps I should call it the Ironic!)
I used to love driving manuals, but I have to admit a decent auto has converted me and not sure I'd go back now.
Previous Lotus' were great on the right road at the right time, or maybe I'm just becoming lazy. But think on a daily and fun car I'd go for auto these days.
Just recently changed from a Disco Sport to the Cayenne. The Disco I'd say was a better 'all rounder' but as a car the Cayenne is superb.
Great article though. Although think the Defender 110 would be a better choice over the 90.
Great choice on the Alpine though. Nice to see something different
Previous Lotus' were great on the right road at the right time, or maybe I'm just becoming lazy. But think on a daily and fun car I'd go for auto these days.
Just recently changed from a Disco Sport to the Cayenne. The Disco I'd say was a better 'all rounder' but as a car the Cayenne is superb.
Great article though. Although think the Defender 110 would be a better choice over the 90.
Great choice on the Alpine though. Nice to see something different
I've had a 2-car garage for most of the last 20 years. It has usually been a 4 seat sports saloon or coupe (usually an M3) plus a 2 seat sports car (usually a Cayman).
Currently I have these two - both manual:
And within the next month, the 2-car garage will become a 3-car garage with the addition of a black GR Yaris
Currently I have these two - both manual:
And within the next month, the 2-car garage will become a 3-car garage with the addition of a black GR Yaris
Bill said:
Surely the fun car needs the manual.My two car garage for the past three years has been a manual GT3 and a Golf R Estate. At the end of the lease the golf was replaced by an Auto Tiguan because the long term average speed in the Golf was 14mph, you really don’t need 310bhp to average 14mph.
paralla said:
This. How long has it taken Dan to admit that a manual A110 would be a good thing?
My two car garage for the past three years has been a manual GT3 and a Golf R Estate. At the end of the lease the golf was replaced by an Auto Tiguan because the long term average speed in the Golf was 14mph, you really don’t need 310bhp to average 14mph.
To be fair, he is doing something right. My "fun car" is my wife's shed Mazda6! My two car garage for the past three years has been a manual GT3 and a Golf R Estate. At the end of the lease the golf was replaced by an Auto Tiguan because the long term average speed in the Golf was 14mph, you really don’t need 310bhp to average 14mph.
cerb4.5lee said:
Mr Tidy said:
I seem to be drawn to manual straight 6 petrols! 
A great choice I reckon. 
Your Z4M Coupe is a gorgeous looking thing for me.
I think I'm in love with it! If anything it looks better now as I splashed out for a pair of aero sill covers last November.
And I got a decent amount of change from £20K for them both!
At peak batchelor-ishness I was running a Subaru Forester STI Litchfield and a Lotus Exige 1.8 SC. I felt like that covered the bases pretty well but even then I did have part share of a 2.6 V6 Audi Cabriolet.
Two car garage will do 90% of what you need but three car garage is where you can hit 100% coverage of every possible use case. That's why there used to be an article series on people picking fantasy three car garages.
EDIT: My bad, it was 100K garages, wtih no restriction on number of cars. https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-100k-garag...
Two car garage will do 90% of what you need but three car garage is where you can hit 100% coverage of every possible use case.
That's why there used to be an article series on people picking fantasy three car garages.EDIT: My bad, it was 100K garages, wtih no restriction on number of cars. https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-100k-garag...
Edited by Ryvita on Monday 14th June 07:42
Mr E said:
AC43 said:
Didn't know you had an Elise - whet a great combo. About as different as you could get.
I have a leaf too. Just to cover all bases. The Elise might be going (after 12 years). My commute has changed and it’s just not getting used. If it was a 2+2 it would be used for days out.
Evora then.
I've run two cars for some time now and it's always been a balancing act. I believe the key thing is to have a very clear reason to take one car over the other for a specific journey, but to not have too many restrictions or limited circumstances that mean you end up neglecting one. For a while I paired an E39 M5 and a shed Mk1 Focus, but I after a change of job I found myself using the Focus too often as it was much cheaper to run over the kind of journeys where the M5 would only offer a little more comfort and luxury; the M5 wasn't suitable for tracks or being driven hard for fear of huge bills, it was swallowing money at a terrifying rate and the stress outweighed the times it was a joy to drive.
I switched to a Fiesta and an Mk3 MX-5 - not too dissimilar to Dan's proposed set-up, albeit the sportscar being a fair bit older, N/A and also manual. And a lot less stress-inducing to run. Slower than an A110 - yes, dynamically worse - certainly, but I still smile every time I drive it, even after 5+ years of ownership.
Now with family duties on the horizon I've upscaled the Fiesta to a Jaguar XF S, which is effortless at mile-munching whilst still being rewarding enough to drive when an interesting road presents. The MX-5 will stay on for sunshine and when I don't need to go far or carry stuff/people. I'm quite happy with my latest 2-car garage, hopefully it will stand the test of time. Big auto barge, small manual sportscar - a classic pairing. I do have access to my wife's car but now I have very little reason to use it.
Money no object if of course it would change (right now, a Caterham and V8 Panamera please). The answer changes all the time. Everyone's unique circumstances allows/dictates a slightly different balance of attributes (and budget).
I switched to a Fiesta and an Mk3 MX-5 - not too dissimilar to Dan's proposed set-up, albeit the sportscar being a fair bit older, N/A and also manual. And a lot less stress-inducing to run. Slower than an A110 - yes, dynamically worse - certainly, but I still smile every time I drive it, even after 5+ years of ownership.
Now with family duties on the horizon I've upscaled the Fiesta to a Jaguar XF S, which is effortless at mile-munching whilst still being rewarding enough to drive when an interesting road presents. The MX-5 will stay on for sunshine and when I don't need to go far or carry stuff/people. I'm quite happy with my latest 2-car garage, hopefully it will stand the test of time. Big auto barge, small manual sportscar - a classic pairing. I do have access to my wife's car but now I have very little reason to use it.
Money no object if of course it would change (right now, a Caterham and V8 Panamera please). The answer changes all the time. Everyone's unique circumstances allows/dictates a slightly different balance of attributes (and budget).
Untitled by James Waller, on FlickrI'm not sure these two are the "ideal" garage, so will pick the current one (Impreza) and our new Velar D300 which was delivered the other day as a good two car garage.
Untitled by James Waller, on FlickrMust say though, apart from the fuel economy, the Impreza does actually make a fantastic cruising machine (drove across Europe recently in it), even with it's shorter top gear(s) and quick rack (JDM STi)
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